Germany’s snap elections have delivered a major political shift, with the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) projected to take second place with 20.5% of the vote, according to an exit poll by state broadcaster ARD. The center-right Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social Union (CDU/CSU) is expected to emerge victorious with over 28%, securing its position as the dominant force in German politics.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democratic Party (SPD) faces a historic defeat, garnering only 16.4%—its worst performance since 1949. The Financial Times described the result as the party’s most significant loss since 1887. SPD’s coalition partners, the Greens, are expected to receive 12%, while the Free Democratic Party (FDP) is projected to fall to 4.7%, potentially failing to meet the parliamentary threshold. The Left Party is forecasted at 8.6%, with the newly formed Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance debuting at 4.9%.
AfD has seen the most significant gains, improving by 9.1% compared to the 2021 elections. CDU/CSU also gained 4.9%, while SPD suffered a 9.7% drop, the Greens declined by 1.2%, and the FDP saw a sharp decrease of 6.5%. The ruling traffic-light coalition had been struggling in public opinion for months, with surveys indicating declining support.
Based on ARD’s projections, AfD could secure 150 out of 630 seats in parliament, while CDU/CSU is expected to claim 208.
AfD Celebrates Historic Gains, CDU/CSU Prepares to Form Government
AfD co-leader and chancellor candidate Alice Weidel called the election results “historic,” emphasizing that the party had become the second strongest force in Germany despite attempts to suppress its rise. She reiterated AfD’s willingness to form a coalition, warning CDU/CSU against partnering with left-leaning parties. “If they betray their voters, the next elections will come sooner than they think, and then we will overtake the CDU as the strongest force,” Weidel stated.
Chancellor Scholz acknowledged the defeat, calling the election results a “bitter outcome” for the SPD and taking responsibility for the party’s poor showing. He also voiced concerns over AfD’s strong performance, stressing the importance of maintaining the “firewall” principle, which prevents mainstream parties from forming coalitions with the right-wing group.
CDU/CSU leader Friedrich Merz, who is now poised to form the next government, stated that his priority would be to establish a “well-functioning government” as soon as possible. The coming weeks will determine the composition of Germany’s new ruling coalition amid the significant political reshuffle.
